Originally from Rochester, New York, Peter James Learn began composing in his late teens, first focusing primarily on electronic soundscapes and EDM, then branching out into concert music. In addition to composing, Learn is also a trained percussionist and avid amateur pianist and violinist. Peter earned a BM in composition and theory from Heidelberg University, studying with Brian Bevelander, where he was awarded the Ars Nova prize for composition. He then went on to earn a MM in composition, studying with Dana Wilson, at Ithaca College in New York. Peter also holds a doctorate in composition from the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he studied under composers Dennis Kam and Dorothy Hindman. Learn recently completed his first opera, The Nero Monologues, which opened in London in August 2017 and is scheduled for performance runs in major cities world-wide in the coming year. Another recent commission of note, GALT, an hour-long tone poem for ten grand pianos and percussion, was premiered by the Miami Piano Circle in May of 2017, receiving both audience and critical acclaim. Other recent compositional activities of his include the premiere of his symphonic work Mosäique by The Cleveland Orchestra, a commission for brass trio, Dumas, by trombonist Andrew Friedrichs, the inclusion of his Shant, for string quartet on the Henri Mancini Institute Quartet’s recent recording, and the premier of his chamber work Apollonian Echo by members of the Cleveland Orchestra. His Schumann Resonances was also recently premiered by the Baltimore-based Lunar Ensemble and his Benevolent Machinations for piano duo was recently performed by international pianists Daniel Manoiu and Larisa Soboleva. Dr. Learn is currently a member of the music theory and composition faculty of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he continues to be an active composer, performer, and educator.